Evaluation of the immunotoxic effect of crack cocaine in rats: development of pulmonar method of exposure

• Grant number: 12/24550-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: June 01, 2013 - May 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Toxicology
• Principal Investigator: Isis Machado Hueza
• Grantee: Isis Machado Hueza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Karin Argenti Simon ; Virgínia Martins Carvalho

Abstract

Currently, the use of the drug: crack (cocaine, as free base) has spread dramatically among users of drugs of abuse, not respecting social barriers, age ranges or ethnic groups, resulting in great damage to society, not only due to violence, but mainly related to public health. In fact, several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that drug users are more likely to develop serious health problems, among these, the occurrence of infectious diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and others. However, rare or almost absent are the studies with crack performed in animal model, which would be of great interest, considering the lacking of variables that crack users have, such as: concomitant use of other drugs, stress, malnutrition and others, which could result in higher susceptibility to immunossupression. Thus, the objectives of the present study are: to develop a feasible methodology to expose rats to crack smoke and to evaluate the effect of this exposure during 28 days to different parameters of the immune system of these animals. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

HUEZA, ISIS M.; PONCE, FERNANDO; GARCIA, RAPHAEL C. T.; MARCOURAKIS, TANIA; YONAMINE, MAURICIO; MANTOVANI, CINTHIA DE C.; KIRSTEN, THIAGO B.. A new exposure model to evaluate smoked illicit drugs in rodents: A study of crack cocaine. JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS, v. 77, p. 17-23, JAN-FEB 2016. (12/24550-7)